After leaving her contact information, Platinum departed quickly. As she said herself, she would be the one to come find them when the time came.
The four inside the room relaxed again. Siege seemed visibly relieved. She turned to Morgan and Dagda.
"Tomorrow's Development belongs to Felix Lanshem, a friend I met once. Back then, his group had only a few hundred people. After all these years, it must number in the tens of thousands."
Morgan looked surprised.
"Big Sis, do you really think he could grow this fast in just a few years?"
Siege paused.
"I think I may have underestimated him. In some ways, he could even be my teacher."
"A few years to grow from a hundred to ten thousand… even if that's just your estimate, if it's true, it's terrifying."
Dagda muttered quietly.
Indra scratched her forehead.
"If it's people from Tomorrow's Development, I think we can trust them. We confirmed that girl's identity, after all."
Siege fell silent. Ever since she realized that this city no longer had room for them, and that even her own presence risked harming the people around her, she had already made up her mind to leave. Once she announced she was heading out, the rest of the Glasgow Gang chose to leave with her.
Tomorrow's Development…
She thought of Felix's face. Though the years had passed and her memory of that time had begun to blur, she still remembered him clearly.
Because she remembered the way Felix once spoke to her about what it meant to be a king.
When she saw him again, she wanted to ask him properly what he had accomplished in these years. If she could learn from his experiences, all the better.
After returning, Platinum briefed the others on the cooperation with the Glasgow Gang. Meteorite was a very open-minded captain and cared greatly about mission progress. She had already tacitly approved Platinum's independent actions. Hearing that she secured cooperation with locals, she gave Platinum an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
The next day, they began their operation.
First, the Sarkaz mercenaries—dressed in tattered clothing—approached members of the Military Commission. Out of consideration for their shared heritage, the Commission members did not show hostility and patiently listened to their complaints about how Kazdel had been "seized" by Tomorrow's Development, leaving them homeless.
While the mercenaries dramatically lamented the state of Kazdel and Felix's supposed "cruelty," the adventurers kept watch from a distance. Meteorite and Platinum slipped in through the back door of the manor. After gently opening a window, they climbed inside with ease.
Their sudden appearance startled Duke Kent, who had been peacefully eating while reading his newspaper. But once he heard their intent and read the letter his daughter sent, he agreed immediately to leave with Tomorrow's Development's mercenaries. Still, before departing, he took measures to buy time. He knew he could not deceive the Military Commission for long—he was monitored constantly—but delaying them for a day was possible.
In his bedroom, he drew the curtains closed, arranged pillows and blankets on a chair, making it look like someone hunched over a desk writing. From outside, it would seem like he was still there.
He packed lightly. He had little to bring; he'd come to the city intending to serve as both hostage and informant, yet the dukes had taken no action at all.
Even if he wanted to leave on his own, the Military Commission's Sarkaz guards would never allow it.
What reassured him now was the realization that entrusting his daughter to Tomorrow's Development had been the right decision. Seeing from her letter that she was safe and well, a weight finally lifted from his heart.
His daughter, Delphine, didn't need to stand out. As long as she moved forward steadily, step by step, he would be satisfied.
At the gate, the Sarkaz mercenary finished his long speech, loyally insisting that he would go report to the Military Commission. This greatly pleased the Commission's guards, who felt they had saved another suffering kinsman.
Once the group departed, the adventurers watching from nearby slipped away from the street corners.
Only after leaving the Military Commission's district did everyone finally breathe a sigh of relief. Duke Kent was no longer dressed in his fine noble uniform but instead wore the kind of cheap, filthy clothes anyone could buy at a street stall. He had originally planned to escape Londinium disguised this way among ordinary people, but he had been a step too late.
After entering the slums, Platinum led Meteorite's group into Glasgow territory. The gang members, clearly informed beforehand, ignored them completely. After a few turns, they arrived at the gym, where Meteorite finally met the partner Platinum had arranged: Siege.
"Then let us depart at once," Siege said after glancing at the out-of-breath Duke Kent. She asked no questions and offered no unnecessary words—only a straightforward command.
Meteorite appreciated that kind of attitude very much.
The group walked down the street like a bunch of punks wandering out of some grimy back alley. Instead of heading toward the city gates, they went the opposite way, straight toward the industrial district.
Most of the industrial zone was already under the control of the Military Commission. Whatever remained would likely fall soon. Meteorite frowned slightly, sweeping a wary glance over the four women of the Glasgow Gang, still unable to figure out what they were planning.
As for whether they intended to betray them, the thought had crossed her mind. But in her assessment, aside from the leading Siege who had real skill, the other three were merely trained fighters. Against the fully armed Tomorrow's Development mercenaries, they wouldn't be able to stir up much trouble.
Perhaps noticing the mercenaries' suspicion, Morgan spoke quietly. "Some factories in the industrial district haven't bowed to the Military Commission yet. A few even want to resist them. We're heading to the territory of one of those factories."
"From there we can go through the factory's internal passages and straight into Londinium's sewers. Then we'll slip out of the mobile city… though the smell might be a bit much."
Meteorite nodded without commenting further. Instead, she began attempting to contact the pilots who had been circling outside the city these past few days.
The arrival of Siege didn't cause much of a stir at the factory. A long line had already formed. Some people had brought their families, while others kept their faces covered.
"What is this…" Meteorite scanned the crowd. Everyone had luggage on their backs. Rather than heading out for a trip, they looked more like they were moving away entirely… or fleeing.
"Anyone who's sensed something is wrong recently has chosen to leave Londinium. It's not a large number, mostly middle-class families," Morgan said with a sigh. "They can still survive if they move to another city. But most people don't have that option."
"For them, Londinium is the only place they can go. Even if they fear tomorrow will be worse than today, they stay. Not because they don't want to leave… but because they cannot."
Her voice dropped low as she led the group to the back of the line.
Meteorite remained silent, listening to the conversations drifting from the people ahead.
"Damn, this line is slow. Hope the car I rented is still outside the city. Really hope the driver didn't run off."
"Buddy, I'd worry more about whether those demonfolk patrols show up."
"They wouldn't dare stop us from leaving, would they? They're nothing but the duke's dogs. Think they can bite their master now?"
The voices stopped. The men turned and glanced back. When they noticed Meteorite and the other Sarkaz, they looked awkward for a moment, but their dislike of "demonfolk" outweighed their embarrassment.
No apology. No explanation. They simply turned away and resumed whispering among themselves.
Meteorite sighed inwardly. She didn't argue or force an apology.
The Sarkaz had endured discrimination for a long time, because of the war and because their stereotyped occupation only deepened people's assumptions. Even though Kazdel had long been liberated and the Sarkaz were living like a reborn people across Terra, outsiders' attitudes — and the Sarkaz's own social standing — would not change overnight. It required effort from everyone.
So Meteorite wasn't angry. She only resolved, quietly, to work even harder.
The line moved steadily. No trouble-making Sarkaz appeared, and groups of residents passed through and exited in batches. Soon it was Meteorite's party's turn.
Meteorite handed the role of spokesperson to Siege, since she was the local.
Siege stepped forward, pulled out the fee, and paid the factory worker guarding the exit. After all, leaving wasn't free. There was no such thing as free service here.
"The Military Commission bastards are coming!"
Someone shouted, and the gatekeeper instantly yanked Siege down, gesturing for the others to get under cover as well.
The Londinium residents reacted the same way. They ducked under workbenches or squeezed into closets, as if competing to see who had better stealth skills.
Soon, two Sarkaz mercenaries walked into the factory. They glanced around and said, "Where's your supervisor? Are we still doing business or not?"
Business?
The word made Meteorite frown slightly.
The workers stared silently at the two mercenaries. The Sarkaz didn't resort to violence; one of them only spread his hands and said, "The Military Commission has always come with sincerity. Why do you insist on shutting us out again and again?"
"Our supervisor didn't know you were coming today. He's in his office," someone replied stiffly.
The Sarkaz mercenary nodded in satisfaction and headed toward the office.
"The Military Commission has been eyeing this factory for a long time," the gatekeeper muttered. "The factory next door already got bought out. The folks there said they tried negotiating at first, but if you don't cooperate, they start making threats. Strong-arming you into a deal."
"Damn it. And Parliament didn't say a thing? What are those Military Commission Sarkaz trying to pull?" Indra cursed, clearly annoyed.
Meteorite's eyes darkened. She understood the importance of the factories. In Kazdel's mobile city, the industrial district was the heart of everything, churning out the weapons and equipment everyone relied on.
Why did the Military Commission want to seize the factories? Anyone with half a brain could figure that out.
Meteorite glanced at Platinum. Platinum's eyes flickered with understanding, and she gave a faint nod. It seemed they were thinking the same thing.
The group stayed silent. Once the Military Commission's mercenaries entered the office, the gatekeeper quickly opened the door leading to the sewers, and they hurried down.
It was filthy and damp below, but the warm glow of kerosene lamps lit their way. There was only one path, so getting lost wasn't a concern.
Duke Kent had been silent until they reached the underground passage. Only then did he speak. "The Military Commission's movements are growing bolder. Allowing General Theresis into Londinium was a foolish decision."
"Inviting someone is easy. Sending one away is not. But saying that now changes nothing."
When he thought of how the dukes acted only for themselves, refusing to cooperate, frustration washed over him again. Londinium didn't belong to any duke. It belonged to the King of Victoria. But with the throne vacant, and the royal family wiped out by conspiracy decades ago, the Victoria nobles fought their own battles while the Tara nobles schemed in the shadows. He could already see the future of Victoria clearly.
It would be war.
After half an hour of walking, they finally saw a faint light ahead. There, parked beside the dirt road, were vans and small trucks, likely left by residents escaping Londinium.
Siege was the last to exit the passage. She turned back, trying to catch a final glimpse of the city behind her.
The steel metropolis was far too massive. All she could see were the endless city walls and the thick barrels of the defensive cannons mounted atop them.
Then she turned away. It might be a very long time before she returned.
"Meteorite, how are we leaving?" Siege asked. "Catching a ride? Or is there a driver waiting for us?"
Meteorite simply walked ahead with purpose. Seeing she had a destination in mind, no one questioned her. They followed for another half hour until they reached the base of a dirt hill. Indra finally couldn't hold it in anymore.
"Hey, don't tell me we're walking out of Victoria."
"No. We're here."
Meteorite stepped aside.
Behind her, beneath the hill, was a small transport aircraft.
She smiled slightly. "Compared to driving, flying is faster, isn't it?"